The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-02
BURIED IN THE RUINS.
Terrible Explosion of Gasoline In a
st. Louis Store.
Three Buildings Blown Into Piles of
Burning Debris.
One Child the Sole Survivor of a
Family of Seven.

ST. LOUIS, Nov. LA terrific gasoline ex-
the grocery store of Michael Newman, No. Z
South 14th street.
The grocery and two adjoining two-story
brick buildings were demolished, and twelve
persons, including the wife and five children
of Mr.. Newman, and two families living in
the adjoining house, were buried in the ruins.
1t is not known how many persons were
killed, but it is feared that dozen or more
lives were lost.
A fire soon broke out, the cause Of which
is mystery. The people stopping in the
house were G. N. Deyere and wife, who are
missing, and Michael Newman, his wife An
ME, and their children, Mamie, John, Ed
ward, Nellie and Katie. Names Of other oe-
cupants have not yet been ascertained. The
nremen succeeded in clearing away space
about ten feet square in the centre of the
ruins, when faint cry Of agony broke on
their ears. The fire was creeping in on three
sides, but they fought of the flames to pre-
vent the cremating Of the suffering living as
well as the remains of the dead.
All OF the Newman family had been taken
out at O'Clock, and will be counted among
die.
At 4.20, the dead bodies of MIR. and Mrs.
Devere were found, horribly mangled and
burned; also the body of Miss Peevy, who
had slept in an adjoining room.
There. were more people in the building,
and 1t Is feared that the death list will be
larger than at first reported. Work in the
ruins is necessarily slow, because of the
shattered condition of the buildings.
Later Reports.
ST. Louis, Mo-, Nov. 1.-The only survivor
taken from either No. or No. is Miss
Hattie Brown. the sister and visitor of Mrs.
Devere. She states that she awoke to find
herself buried between two heavy timbers
somewhere against wall, while crashing
timbers and gathering iron flew in storm
above her head. The screams of persons in
adjoining buildings were fearful. She essay
ed to escape, but was firmly pinned down,
At last settling Of the wreck partially re.
leased the pressure and she struggled from
beneath the debris. How she made her way
to the little back yard where she was found
she cannot tell, except that it was staggering,
falling, climbing and falling again, over.
through or from the ruins.
The following is a list Of the dead recover
ed from the ruins:
Michael Newman, aged 50.
Mrs. Annie Newman. aged 40.
Miss Mamie Newman, aged 18.
John Newman, aged 16.
Kate Newman, aged IL.
Eddie Newman, aged IL.
Charles Devere and Mrs. Charles Devere.
The injured, none of whom are seriously
hurt are: Miss Hattie Brown of Columbus,
KY, bruised about the lower limbs; Charles
Effort, and Miss Hattie Bryant.
Bes les those injured in this building were
many persons in the neighborhood more OIL
less cut and bruised, for the flying splnters
and bricks did not alone destroy the New
man store. For several blocks on either side
of the street the conclusion shattered the
windows, and in the immediate vicinity on
the opposite side of the way the fronts OF
force, and scarcely window or door re-
mains. Walls cracked, floors gave way and
plaster fell in almost every house within a
radius Of hundred yards, tumbling on the
heads OF the sleeping residents with horrible
suddenness. Their mad rushing and flight
from they knew not what, in confusion
confounded them and added more to
their injury. The scene of terror on the
street was Illuminated by the glare OF
the ilames The din was enhanced
ing fire engines. A little while and human
natule asserted itself and the organized
efforts OF the city were of avail. The ambu.
lance service was excellent The wagon.
sent to the scene brought skilled attendants
and many physicians were on hand as soor
as their services could be used. Nothing
was spared to relieve the sufferers. The DO.
lice soon had control of promiscuou.
crowd, and the yandals had no opportunity
to ply their trade, as watchmen were in tn,
shattered buildings before the rogues dared
to enter. The fremen worked at the faller
buildings, regardless of the adjacent walls
which lowered with impending danger. and
by daylight all the victims had been re.
moved.
The financial loss caused by the explosion
will not exceed S2000O Mrs Reaselv onf
of the victims If the catastrophe, is now
dead. Nellie Newman is still alive at the
City Hospital, but there is small hope Of her
recovery.